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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Ian Cole

Auston MatthewsAuston MatthewsMaple Leafs · CentrevsIan ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.

Auston Matthews has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Power-play share 71.5%, Power-play time per game 2:42, Shots on goal 227.

Cole's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Luck Meter +23, Fenwick 51.7%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Ian Cole

1.30

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsCole
Goals (+2)0.790.06
Assists (+1)0.380.22
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.00
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.07
Hits (+0.1)0.070.08
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.87

Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: Matthews vs Cole

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MatthewsCole
11Team record in 20 meetings9
21Points in those games9

Matthews 11G 10A, 73 SOG · Cole 1G 8A, 21 SOG

1Hits on each other3
1Shots blocked by the other2

Matthews blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 2 of Matthews's.

On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)

4:14 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side

Shot attempts
2–2
50.0%
Expected goals
0.1–0.0
100.0%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Ian Cole
DateScoreMatthewsCole
2026-01-13TOR 1–6 UTA0G 0A 1S0G 2A 2S
2025-11-05TOR 5–3 UTA1G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S
2025-03-10TOR 4–3 UTA0G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S
2024-01-20TOR 4–6 VAN0G 1A 7S0G 0A 1S
2023-11-11TOR 5–2 VAN0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2023-04-29 · POTOR 2–1 TBL1G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2023-04-27 · POTOR 2–4 TBL1G 0A 3S0G 1A 0S
2023-04-24 · POTOR 5–4 TBL2G 0A 7S0G 0A 0S
2023-04-22 · POTOR 4–3 TBL1G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2023-04-20 · POTOR 7–2 TBL0G 2A 3S1G 0A 1S
2023-04-18 · POTOR 3–7 TBL0G 2A 2S0G 1A 0S
2022-12-20TOR 4–1 TBL1G 0A 6S0G 0A 2S

Latest 12 of 20 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MatthewsCole

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.

Auston Matthews

3games (1 left)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
    vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Ian Cole

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 pts
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
Who is better, Auston Matthews or Ian Cole?
On 2025-26 numbers, Auston Matthews leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Matthews and Cole done against each other?
In 20 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 11–9. Matthews had 21 points (11 goals) and Cole had 9 (1 goals).

2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →